Bryant Park Skating Rink, Holiday Shops Extended Through March

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Even once the holidays are long past us, ice skating and outdoor shops will still be up and running at Bryant Park past the first day of spring.

This year's Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park plans to extend its season by three weeks through March 28, organizers announced Tuesday. A news release cited "popular demand and the need for fun, outdoor activities."

Now in its 19th year, the popular annual holiday market opened on Oct. 30, with an original planned closing date of March 7.

Given the coronavirus pandemic — which shuttered many of the city's typical holiday markets, like those at Columbus Circle at Union Square — the Bryant Park event featured a number of precautions, including a face-covering requirement, limited capacity on the ice rink and an advance registration system.

The outdoor market was also rearranged with fewer shops to allow for social distancing.

About half of the roughly two dozen shops will remain through the three-week extension. A "Small Business Spotlight," highlighting four locally-based minority-owned small businesses, will also continue through March.

The skating rink will likewise stay open (with free admission), as will the heated outdoor dining areas, The Lodge Deck and Cozy Igloos.

Read more at the Bank of America Winter VIllage at Bryant Park website.